In the Melancholy Moonlight

Chapter XXI: Feels Different, Doesn't It?

LUCY:

I'll admit that I missed my dog more than my parents when I was at school.

The second Cedric opened the front door, Tuck nearly barreled him over in his barking mad rush to get to me. I dropped to my knees as Tuck immediately began to cover my face in a layer of slobber. I didn't mind, though; I had missed him too.

"I missed you too, pal," Cedric teased, coming over to stroke the top of Tuck's head, "but I think you know Lucy missed you more."

"He was lonely with only your father and me for company," Mum chuckled. "Stand up, Lucy, you'll get your skirt dirty."

I blushed as I rose to my feet, Tuck still making happy barking noises as we stumbled inside. Cedric and I climbed the stairs to our bedrooms, Tuck close behind.

The familiar scent of Mum's flowers hit my nose as I entered my room; one of her gardens was just below my window, which someone had opened for me already. I plopped my suitcase on my bed and opened it, but I wasn't quite ready to unpack yet.

I glanced around my room. It was the same as I had left it, as I expected, but it just felt different. The rays of the setting sun bathed my pastel yellow walls in a warm glow, but I found myself missing the vibrancy of the red Gryffindor walls, and the way the sunset made them look like they were on fire. My wardrobe in the corner of the room, which I once saw as a guardian protecting me from spooks in the middle of the night, now made my ribs ache with the pain of being crushed under a wardrobe not altogether unlike that one. I rubbed them out of habit and approached my window.

The view hadn't changed at all. My bedroom overlooked the nearby woods that stretched all the way to the village. I turned to the right; I knew the Weasleys' Burrow was that direction. I knew there was no way that I'd be able to see it from my window, but I squinted anyway. I missed the twins already, and Ron as well. I missed all of my friends already. The stillness of my room, once a comforting escape, now seemed to mock me with how alone I was.

I heard a soft tap at the door, and I turned to see Cedric smiling knowingly. "Feels different, doesn't it?"

I nodded, and he joined me at the window, pushing it further open so we could both lean forward out of it ever so slightly.

"Hogwarts still has better sunsets," I remarked.

He laughed. "I agree. But this view isn't bad either."

Tuck came up behind me and nudged my leg, as if to remind me he was still there and still in desperate need of attention after my almost ten months away. I laughed and turned to scratch behind his ear, and he wagged his forked tail in satisfaction.

"Cedric! Lucy! Dinner!" came a call from down the stairs.

"Whatever happens, don't mention the Stone," I whispered quickly. "I think it's best if they don't know."

He nodded in silent agreement, and we headed down the stairs.

"How were exams this year, my boy?" Dad asked as we took our seats around the table.

"Lucy and I both did well," he replied with a smile.

"Were they difficult this year? How was the Ancient Runes exam? Never took that class myself of course, my friends cautioned me against it, but I'm glad you took my suggestion and braved it anyway."

"It was difficult, but Henry and I spent a fair amount of time studying together and both did well."

Just the mention of ancient runes made a small amount of pride swell in my chest. I had never seen Hermione look so impressed with me as she had when I recited the riddle. I definitely planned to make more progress with the book this summer, as soon as I finished my required schoolwork.